Exercise Specialist / Rehab Tech, Lewes Delaware

Aquacare & Fitness Forum Physical Therapy; Lewes (DE); On-site; USD 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) with 4% match

PTO

6 paid holidays

CPR certification paid

Lifeguard certification paid

Job summary

Aquacare & Fitness Forum Physical Therapy in Lewes, DE is hiring an Exercise Specialist / Rehab Tech to coach patients through PT-designed exercise programs, including aquatic therapy sessions in the pool. You will support therapists, set up treatment areas, and help keep the clinic clean.

This role offers pathways for students: PT, PTA, or exercise science tracks, with on-the-job training and paid CPR/Lifeguard certifications. Schedule 15–26 hours weekly at $16–$19/hour.

Qualifications

• Reliability and good communication with patients in pain or frustration.
• Basic computer skills and ability to multitask in a busy clinic.
• Experience or coursework in exercise science is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Guide patients through prescribed exercise programs under PT direction.
• Set up and reset treatment areas, equipment, and pool deck between patients.
• Monitor safety in gym and water; report any concerns.
• Answer phones, confirm appointments, schedule patients, and cover front desk as needed.
• Perform housekeeping duties to keep clinic and common areas clean.

Skills

Reliability

Communication skills

Basic computer skills

Multitasking

Education

CPR certification

Exercise science / kinesiology coursework or degree

Job description

Exercise Specialist / Rehab Tech

$16-19 | Full-time or part-time | Great Place to Work Certified 2025 and 2026

Aquacare/Fitness Forum Physical Therapy is hiring an Exercise Specialist, also called a rehab tech or physical therapy aide. You will coach patients through the exercise programs our physical therapists design, including sessions in our therapy pool.

In addition, you will assist the therapist in cleaning treatment areas before and after patient sessions, as well as housekeeping duties for cleanliness of the clinic. If you are headed for PT school, PTA school, or a career in exercise science, this is one of the best seats in the business.

The job, specifically

• $16-19 per hour, 15-26 hours per week
• Schedule: Mostly days, with 1-2 evening shifts until 7pm per week
• You work alongside a team of 6-8 physical therapists and techs depending on location
• One-on-one patient care, because our PTs never double-book
• Benefits eligible at 30 hours: medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with 4% match, PTO, 6 paid holidays
• Paid CPR certification if you do not have it yet
• Paid lifeguard certification for aquatic therapy support

What you will actually do

• Guide patients through their prescribed exercise programs under a PT's direction
• Set up and reset treatment areas, equipment, and the pool deck between patients
• Watch for safety in the gym and the water, and speak up when something looks off
• Answer phones, confirm appointments, schedule patients, and cover the front desk when needed
• Housekeeping duties for cleanliness of clinic and common areas.

What we need from you

Required: reliability, real communication skills with people who are in pain or frustrated, basic computer skills, and the ability to hold several things at once on a busy morning.

Helpful but not required: CPR certification, coursework or a degree in exercise science or kinesiology, prior experience in a medical office or fitness setting, lifeguard certification or aquatic experience.

No physical therapy experience? We train. Several of our current PTs and PTAs started in this exact role.

Why this job goes somewhere

Most exercise specialist jobs are dead ends. This one is a pipeline.

• Observation hours toward your DPT or PTA school application, documented and signed
• Direct mentorship from licensed physical therapists, not just a supervisor
• Exposure to real specialty work: aquatic therapy, orthopedics, pelvic health, lymphedema, balance and vestibular
• Letters of recommendation from clinicians who have actually watched you work
• 25+ certified clinical instructors on staff across our 12 clinics in Maryland and Delaware
• We hire from within, and we would rather you build your career here than somewhere else

Why people stay

We have been physical-therapist-owned since 1998, and we are Great Place to Work Certified in both 2025 and 2026. Those certifications come from anonymous surveys of our own team, not from our marketing department. In the most recent one:

• 96% say new people are made to feel welcome
• 95% say people here care about each other
• 93% say they can be themselves at work
• 85% call it a great place to work, against 57% at a typical U.S. company

Questions before you apply are welcome: Cara Konlian, MSPT, CEO:

[e-mail]

Aquacare and Fitness Forum Physical Therapy operates 12 outpatient clinics across Maryland and Delaware, including Annapolis, Kent Island, Easton, Salisbury and Berlin in Maryland, and Lewes, Millsboro, Millville, Milford and Seaford in Delaware.

For over 26 years, Aquacare & Fitness Forum Physical Therapy has proudly delivered premier outpatient physical therapy services across Maryland and Delaware as a locally owned and operated practice.

We’re committed to helping our clinicians specialize in their fields of interest—supporting professional growth through mentorship and continuing education.

Our specialty services are designed to meet the diverse needs of our community and include:

Specialty Areas:

• Orthopedic Rehabilitation
• OP Home Visits (PT PLUS)
• Aquatic Therapy
• Sports Rehabilitation (Aquacare Athletics)
• Balance & Vestibular Therapy
• Dance Rehabilitation
• Lymphedema Treatment
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Women's Health

At Aquacare & Fitness Forum PT, you’ll be part of a collaborative, patient-centered team that values quality care and clinical excellence.